Tackling climate change: ‘Invest in green tech’

UNDP representative in Pakistan Neil Buhne says Pakistan’s huge population presented a major challenge

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan needs to make fundamental changes in production and consumption patterns and the services sector to tackle climate issues and vulnerabilities.

All sections of society including government departments, the private sector and individuals must play their part in bringing about this transformation to sustainable consumption and production patterns, which is an essential requirement of development, Climate Change Minister Zahid Hamid said at a two-day workshop on sustainable consumption and production organised by the Ministry of Climate Change.

He stressed the need for an efficient and affordable use of natural resources which can reduce vulnerabilities to climate change and help achieve food, water and energy security, lessen pressure on natural resources.

UNDP representative in Pakistan Neil Buhne said Pakistan’s huge population presented a major challenge.

He said that the government’s Vision 2025 was analogous to the SDGs. He highlighted that plastic bags were a threat to the environment and that a fee for plastic bags — similar to the UK and other countries — could reduce their use.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2016.